Lady Gaga is a Force in 2017

As a self-proclaimed mega fan, I am still riding the high of Lady Gaga's Super Bowl performance from this past Sunday. Following her performance, her album 'Joanne' has been on repeat for me. I have been watching videos of her new music videos as well as her old live performances at the Grammys and Oscars. My reaction is always the same whether I am watching a live show or a music video. I think to myself, "this woman is a force." She is versatile, talented, outspoken, and authentically herself 24/7, which has always been some of my favorite things about her.

I was fourteen years old when Lady Gaga released 'Just Dance' in 2008. I still remember the first time I watched the music video with her disco ball bra and Akon's cameo. I remember feeling so intrigued by this new artist and wanting to learn more about her. I never anticipated the amount of admiration and appreciation I would continue to have for her over the next nine years after her first album, 'The Fame.' That first album continues to be one of my favorites with fourteen tracks and hits like "Brown Eyes," "Paparazzi," and "Summerboy." I would listen to this album nonstop in high school and then she released her second album, 'The Fame Monster,' just one year later! It was a Lady Gaga overload and I couldn't have been happier.

Throughout high school, I continuously had the same conversation with my peers about Gaga being "weird," "strange" or "over the top." I came to her defense every time because her unique talent and perspective in the music industry is what my teenage self had been searching for during a time of insecurity. Her extravagant fashion, undeniable talent, creative music videos, and her message of "love yourself my little monsters" resonated with me on such a deep, emotional level. Lady Gaga has always been an important role model for me and ally, especially for the LGBTQ community. She is confident, controversial, and political in ways rarely seen by major pop stars. She gave a voice to a generation of individuals who may have felt different, weird, or insecure. She showed me that to be unique and different is a strength and I should never shy away from that. Through her music and performances, she shows me the power in loving yourself and following your dreams. Through her activism and speeches, she fights for equality, anti-bullying, and gives a voice to sexual assault victims. The list of her accomplishments are astounding and with the announcement of her North American tour for her new album 'Joanne,' it is clear that she is not slowing down soon.

I am proud to share that during my freshman year in college, I presented a ten minute speech on "Why Lady Gaga is a positive role model" for my public speaking class. In addition, for one of my Communication Studies courses, I wrote a paper on Lady Gaga's speech at the National Equality March in 2009. For both assignments, I did my research, dissecting her persona and the power of her rhetoric to promote love and equality. I don't remember what grade I got on either of these assignments and honestly, it doesn't matter. I wanted to share my appreciation for Lady Gaga for anyone who would listen, which included my professors and peers in college. I think my ability to speak about Lady Gaga years later in college is a testament to her authenticity as an artist. Everything Lady Gaga does is meticulous and a well thought out creation. She performs her art with intent because nothing is an accident. She is aware of her power as a public figure, fashionista, artist, role model, and activist. From the beginning, this awareness has allowed her to become the superstar she is today, with old and new fans alike that support her.

Her ambition led her to one of the biggest stages in America this year, the Super Bowl. She had the second-most viewed halftime show performance in Super Bowl history. In 2017! That is huge and especially during this incredibly political time. I know many people were either happy or disappointed that Lady Gaga did not openly take a political stance during her performance. However, what people seem to be forgetting is that Lady Gaga has always been an incredibly political artist. Her persona and the issues she has supported over her career have been deeply rooted in politics. Whether it is the politics of the music industry or legislations in our government, Lady Gaga has taken a stance. It is her beliefs and actions that make her Lady Gaga 24/7 on any stage. It's moments like these that make me realize that in 2017, Lady Gaga is a force.

Just in the last two days alone, I bought a Lady Gaga shirt and I am happy to share that I will be seeing her in concert in August, making my teenage dreams come true. I am excited to see everything Gaga will accomplish this year, especially because we are only in the second month of 2017 and she's already breaking records and making headlines. And you bet, I will be supporting her every step of the way.